# Create a Department

### Overview

**Departments** can represent official company divisions based on job functions (e.g., Marketing, HR, Sales). They provide a centralized hub for department-specific updates, documents, and collaboration. Departments are typically **more structured** and persistent than [Groups & Projects](https://guides.mangoapps.com/user-guide/groups-and-projects).

<figure><img src="/files/anTpDRLEgqz8yuV0ecjJ" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Creating a department space consists of 2 steps: **Enter Details** and **Configure Modules**.

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### Enter Details

In this section, admins will define the department details.

* **Name (Required):** Enter a unique name that clearly identifies the department.
* **Pick a Template (Optional)**: Creating a department from a department template would copy members, files, posts and messages from the template to your department.
* **Short Description:** Provide a concise summary of the department's purpose or what information can be found here. (limit: 2,000 characters).
* **Upload a Photo:** Add a logo or relevant image (250x250 px, <100KB). To exclude an image, uncheck the **Show Photo** box.
* **Banner:** Select a banner to display at the top of the department. This banner also appears on the department card when viewed in card view. The banner will span the full width within the department. The recommended banner size remains 1920 × 150 px.
* **User can Hide Banner**: Select this option to allow users to hide the banner message upon logging in. Any changes made to the banner afterward will cause it to reappear the next time users log in.
* **Assign Categories:** Choose relevant categories to help users easily find the department.

#### **Set D**epartment **Permissions**

* **Public:** Anyone in the network can join and participate.
* **Private:** Only department members can view and interact with content.
  * **Allow Non-Members to Post Updates:** Check this box to allow non-members to post updates in the department. Non-members can view their own updates and receive notifications for comments on their posts but cannot see updates they did not post.

#### **Assign Department Admins**

* Select users to manage department settings and content.
* The department creator can remove themselves as an admin and add others. If removed, they will no longer be a department admin but can still perform administrative actions while maintaining the Creator role for the department.
* Multiple department admins can be assigned at once.

More department admins can be assigned after department creation by visiting the Members module within the department space.

#### **Assign Hashtags**

* Add relevant hashtags to improve searchability of the department.

***

### Department Templates

Admins can create workspace templates for users within a domain to ensure consistency, efficiency, and ease of use. A couple reasons admins may want to use templates are:

* **Standardization** – Templates help enforce best practices, ensuring all users follow a consistent structure for projects, reducing confusion and inefficiencies.
* **Time-Saving** – Instead of starting from scratch, users can quickly set up projects with pre-configured settings, tools, and structures tailored to their needs.
* **Scalability** – As teams grow, standardized templates make it easier to onboard new users and ensure they adhere to organizational workflows without extensive training.
* **Compliance & Governance** – Ensures that all projects adhere to company policies, industry regulations, or legal requirements.

***

### Configure Modules

In this step, admins can add modules to the department and configure the module behavior for the space. When enabled, these modules will appear along the left hand side of the department.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/2HgC6WV3n82v1anT45tX" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Admins for the department can re-arrange the module order by clicking and dragging the modules up and down the list. Each module can also be renamed to suit company purposes.

For information on how modules act within departments, click[ ](https://guides.mangoapps.com/user-guide/groups-and-projects/modules-within-workspaces)[here](https://guides.mangoapps.com/user-guide/departments/modules-within-departments).

Modules can be enabled or disabled at any time from the [Admin Tools](https://guides.mangoapps.com/user-guide/departments/departments) menu within the department.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you would like to have no side navigation for your department, click **Settings** next to each module and toggle the **Show in Navigation** option to **OFF**. The department photo can also be disabled to completely remove the left hand panel from the department.

Admins for the department can still access these modules via the **View Modules** option in the **Admin** dropdown menu.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/byaLXJolhVud1RdVNhPp" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

Once the space has been configured, click **Save & Exit**. The **Department** is now ready to use.


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